National Republican., 1887-10-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

VOICE CULTURE AND ELoCUTION. BY
WILLIAM IT. Ross, A. M. Revised edition.
New York The Baker Il Taylor Company.
Publishers.
One of the best books Of It's kind. But
we do not favor the kind. A good reader,
good orator, like the poet, must be born
reader or orator. There Ia gift In these
three things, and, OF course, the musical
composer, the artist, and the sculptor shall
be added to the list,
Better than any oiher instruction In either
OF these branches of art ia to witness, to
study the actual development, the ex-
preston Of each, in reality, in the profess
sioDal exercise,
But this book can be, will be, Of service
to moderate capacity: to the higher, OF no
service whatever. OF the exalted ability
God himself is instructor. Leave 1t ex-
clusively to His care.
The selections being from the best native
and foreign authors, are, OF necessity, ex-
celIent. Only the rules for their delivery
would be ruin. Shock not the writer's by
inaicting the performance. II would be-
wilder them. They would think they were
somebody else.
stlil, we repeat, for the class mentioned
these precepts will be profitable, not for
any other.
Except for the ungiftcd we are desper-
fessor OF elocution. And, after all, on Sec
ond thought, the work he does for his
amazed pupils were, perhaps, better not
done at all.
FAIRY LEGENDS OF THB FRENCH PROV.
M;,n NGEs; Translaied by hGs iG A. CAREY.
Ph. D., associate in the Johns Hopkins uni
yersity. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell B.
Co., 10 Astor Place. Publishers.
There is peculiar pleasure In old.tlme
legends, fairy or supernatural though they
be. The characteristics OF nationality are
In them, whatever the nation. Thus are
they historical; thus instructive, at least to
the adult reader, while to the young people,
which ie quite Notwithstanding.
Something In the denizens OF France,
which we hardly know TO express; q
vivacity, an ever living interest, frequent
surprise, occasionally startling, renders the
present Legends especially attractive.
We recommend them cordially to the
public's good favor.
THE COUNT OF THE SAXON SHORE; OR,
THE VILLA IN vECTI5. A tale OF the
departure of the Romans from Britain. BY
REV. ALFRED j. CHURCH, Nj. A., professor OF
Latin in University College, London; author
of "Stories from Homer" With the collab.
oration Of Ruth Putnam. Sixteen illustra-
tons. New York: q. r. Putnsm's Sons.
Let us first explain the title: "Count OF
the Saxon Shore" was the designation be-
slowed by Maxlmilian on the officer whose
task It was to protect the coasts Of Britain
and Gaul from the attacks Of the Saxon
pirates.
The withdrawal of the Roman occupa
ton Of England Is the subject OF this
novel. While the reticence Of history
gives but little aid, the author OF the story
perforce, must trust to his Imagination oi
events, vet he has sufficient guidance fol
general correctness.
Thus q vivid picture Of the time ia pro
duced, and, as near as possible, we are pres
ent at the scenes portrayed. They are of 0
most interesting kind. At once are We
transported from the present TO that old
day. A charming love story glides In and
out among the Incidents, and to all beingt
with hearts and memories this will be ex'
ceedingly attractive.
OF the text we can and do write In all
praise; Of the illustrations no commends
tion appears to us just. In some cases they
are out Of drawing, monstrous In all, IN
jured,. ruined by the brownish tlnting EN-
| ployed.
Let the next edltion--the book deserves
other editions-be issued. without the plate
or with better.
BEECHER AS A HUMoRIsT. Selections from
the published works of Henry Ward Beech
er. Compiled by ELEANOR KIRK, editor o
.'The Beecher Book of Days" &c. New
York Fords. Howard & Hubert. Sale
VIM. Ballantyne & Son. 81.
More wit and wisdom here, keen observs
ton and deep philosophy, more religion
too, Of the only kind worthy Of God, uni
yersal brotherhood and benevolence, tha
we should expect to discover elsewhere, 1
similar space, throughout the republic G
literature.
The selections from the rich variety G
subjects evince admirable judgment
| THE BEE MAN OF oRN AND OTHER FAN
ClFuL TALES. By FRANK X. STOCKTON
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. Sale
| william Ballantyne & Son. sl.25.
| These peculiar stories of impossibllitie
are certainly entertaining. That they vii
be generally read, wondered and laughe
over, cannot be doubted any more tha
that the farcical comedies" Of the presen
stage and Its pinafore operas insure crowde
audiences and shake the theaters, daily au
nightly, with vigorous laughter and tn
multitudinous noises Of applause
or such character, with somewhc
more OF the delicate and fantastic spirit {
the "Arabian Nights" are these uniqu
tales. Evidently In this mood runs th
public mind, nowadays, and playwright an
book. arc at least prudent, in ilnaI
cial consideration, to meet the world
major demand. You, sober, solemn sens,
stard aside! We hold grand carnival, an
who shall say us nayG